Spindle-adjusting device.



R. G. H. KNIGHT & G. R. QUIMBY.

SPlNDLE ADJUSTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION man MAY 2. 1916.

1,213,657, Patented Jan. 23,1917.

r 5 22 I? 5 k 6 2? ATTORNEY marten snares RICHARD G. H. KNIGHT, OF PRGVIDENCE, AND GEORGE E. QUIMBY, OF CENTRAL FALLS, RHODE ISLAND.

SPINDLE-ADJUSTING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 2, 1916. Serial Ito. 94,889.

2 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, RICHARD G. H. Karol-r1: and Gnonen R. QUIMBY, citizens of the United States, residing at Providence and Central Falls, respectively, in the county of Providence, State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spindle-Adjusting Devices, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to spinning-spindles and consists of an improved adjusting-device for the spindle-support or bearin The object of our improvement is to provide means for adjusting the spindle-bearing in relation to the rail in which it sets whereby the axis of the spindle may be set in true, vertical position or plumbed as it is called.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a simple and eliicient device which may be applied to spinning-frames already in use to aline and plumb the spindles which may have been displaced or forced out of position through wear or deterioration of the parts of the machine.

The manner and means for carrying out the improvement are fully set forth in the following specification, illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate like parts.

In the drawings; Figure 1 is an elevation of a spinning-spindle showing the rail in which it is mounted in section to illustrate the manner of applying our improved adjusting-device thereto; and Fig. 2, a view in perspectiveof our improved adjustingmeans.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, R designates the fixed, horizontal rail of a ring-spinning frame or similar, textile machine which is arranged to support a series of supports or bearings 13 for the vertical spindles S. The bearing B is usually constructed with a tubular, upper portion 6 formed with an enlarged flange or base Z) adapted to set against the top of the rail R and having a depending shank b reaching down through a hole or bore 7 in the rail. The shank b is threaded at throughout a portion of its length to adapt it to receive a nut N which is set up against the under side of the rail R, usually with a washer lV interposed therebetween. The spindle S is arranged with its lower portion 8 rotatably mounted in a bore in the shank 6 with its end seated against a suitable step while its upper end turns in a bolster-support in the upper, tubular part 7) of the bearing B, the construction of these parts not being herein shown in detail as they form no part of the present invention. A grooved pulley or whirl P on the spindle S is adapted to receive the belt or band through which the spindle is driven, the arrangement of these connections being in accordance with the usual practice.

is originally designed the base Z) of the bearing 3 is intended to set against the top of the rail R and is held thereagainst to fasten the bolster in place by tightening the nut N. Tn order that the spindles may all be set in parallel alinement, with their aXes in true, vertical. position or plumb, the rail must be very carefully leveled with its top face in a horizontal plane. As he spinning-frame is usually of considerable length and subject to the irregularities of the surface on which it is set it is practically impossible to level the rail R properly and the sagging or distortion of any of its parts will throw it out of position with respect to the ring-rail which is arranged above. The ring-rail carries the rings on which are mounted the travelers for winding the yarn on the spindles S, and it is most important that each spindle sets true in relation to its associated ring. That is to say, the spindles must be adjusted with their axes in true, vertical position extending through the centers of the rings so that the latter move up and down to lay the yarn in place a uniform twist will be given to the strands to insure a smooth, even product. The construction of the frame, if its castings are rough or partly unfinished as is usually the case, makes it particularly diiiicult to set all of the considerable number of spindles plumb and the constant *ibration and wear of the parts tends to aggravate their distortion. Even if the spindles are properly alined and plumbed when the machine is first set up, displacement and distortion soon takes place and in time the spindles will be very badly out of true. To correct this defect it has sometimes been the practice to insert thin shims or strips of paper under the flanges of the bearings B to level their bases and bring the spindles into plumb,

but this expedient is only a makeshift and cannot be permanently satisfactory.

To overccme the conditions stated above we have devised a very simple and efficient means for adjusting the bearings B, to plumb the spindles, which can be easily applied to machines already in use without disturbing the relation of the other parts of the mechanism. As illustrated in Fig. 2, our improved device consists of a substantially flat washer C through the rim of which are threaded a plurality of small set-screws 0, 0, etc. The washer C is placed under the flange 6 of the bearing B abutting the top of the rail R. By screwing the set-screws 0 down against the face of the rail R one side of the washer may be raised slightly to correspondingly tilt the bearing B to bring the. axis of the spindle into plumb. Experiment has determined that the best results are accoi'nplished by using three set-screws which are spaced slightly apart, but all on the same diametrical side of the washer. In. adjusting the bearing B the washer may be rotated around the shank Z) to bring the set-screws in proper relation to the side of the flange Z) which requires raising and as a rule there is enough clearance in the hole 7 to allow the shank to play from one side to the other. The most convenient method of effecting the adjustment after the washer C is in place is to loosen the nut N very slightly and then screw down on the set-screws c to the amount necessary while releasing the nut N as required. After the spindle has been brought into plumb the nut N is set up snugly against the under side of the rail R and the parts will thereby be permanently locked in place in their adjusted relation without liability of unwarranted displacement.

We are aware that it has before been proposed to employ set-screws for adjusting the base of a spindle-bearing in relation to the rail on which it sets, but heretofore such arrangements have required inserting the screws through the flange of the bearing.

This method is not practicable in all instances, however, since with some bearings the flange is not of suflicient diameter to allow for tapping the holes through its rim. Furthermore, when such an arrangement is employed for machines already in use it is necessary to remove all of the bearings to drill and tap their flanges and this requires considerable time and labor while the dismantling of the machine prevents its operation for an extended period. Another objection to the method above described is that owing to the arrangement of the bearings, which are usually constructed with oil ducts on their front sides, their position in the rail cannot be altered and therefore the setscrews must be placed on all sides of their flanges. The bearings being usually made of cast iron, their flanges are brittle and the holes for the set-screws weaken them so that they are apt to be broken and rendered unfit for use.

In our present improvement we provide an adjusting-means which is complete in itself and can be used without any alteration in the other parts of the machine. The washers C may be quickly and easily applied by simply removing the spindle-bearings and slipping them onto their shanks or extensions 5 and the replacement and ad justment of the spindles requires only a short time so that it is unnecessary to dis continue the operation of the machine except for a brief period. Moreover, our improved device is universally applicable to machines of practically all types and may be employed in connection with the spindlebearings already in use. In addition, the range of adjustment of the device is much greater than where set-screws are applied to the flanges of the bearings and a much more accurate and secure setting of the spindles is possible.

, What we claim for our improvement is 1. In an adjusting-device for spinning, windingor twisting-spindles, the combination with the spindle-bearing having a base adapted to set on the spindle-rail and a shank extending through said rail, of a washer surrounding the shank between the base of the bearing and the top of the rail, and a set-screw extending through the rim of the washer to adapt it to be set against the rail to adjust the position of the bearing in relation thereto.

2. In an adjusting-device for rotatable spindles. the combination with the spindlebearing having a base adapted to set on the spindle-rail and a shank extending through the rail, of a relatively flat washer arranged between the base of the bearing and the top of the rail, and a plurality of set-screws arranged in spaced relation on one side of the washer and adapted to be screwed down against the top of the rail to adjust the po sition of the bearing in relation thereto.

3. As a new article of manufacture, an adjusting-device for the bolster-bearings of spinning-spindles consisting in an annular washer having a plurality of set-screws eX- tending through its rim and arranged in spaced relation on one side of its diametrical center.

In testimony whereof we afliX our signa tures. V

RTCHAFD G. H. KNIGHT. GEQRGE R. QUIMBY.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

